Court of Common Pleas of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania Document Filing Requirements

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Final agreement

If the parties accept an agreement resolving all custody issues, the mediator must prepare a Final Agreement and present it to the Court.

If the parties accept a Memorandum of Understanding which disposes of all of the issues regarding custody, it shall be the sole responsibility of the appointed Child Custody Mediator to prepare a Final Agreement and present it to the Court, and if the Final Agreement is found acceptable by the Court, it shall be made into a Final Order.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

A motion must state whether a hearing or argument is requested, the estimated time needed, and a proposed rule to show cause under Pennsylvania Rule 208.4(b)(1).

A motion shall contain a statement as to whether a hearing or argument is requested, the estimated length of time needed, and a proposed rule to show cause under Pennsylvania Rule 208.4(b)(1).

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Attorney filing

An attorney making a filing before previously appearing of record must include their current official address, telephone number, and Pennsylvania attorney identification number.

(c) Any filing by an attorney, not heretofore of record in the case, shall contain his or her current official address, telephone number and Pennsylvania attorney identification number.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Original hard copy

The filing party must retain the original hard copy for two years after the latest of the specified case, order, or appellate dispositions.

The filing party shall maintain the original hard copy of the document filed for two years after the later of: the disposition of the case; the entry of an order resolving the issue raised by the legal paper; or the disposition by an appellate court of the issue raised by the legal paper.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Memorandum of understanding

When the parties reach full agreement, the mediator must prepare a Memorandum of Understanding.

When the Child Custody Mediator determines that the parties have reached full agreement concerning the matter, he/she shall prepare a Memorandum of Understanding within ten (10) days following the mediation.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Petition to proceed in forma pauperis

If both parties are indigent, they must submit a petition to proceed in forma pauperis in the form specified by Pa. R.C.P. 240.

If both parties are indigent, petition to proceed in forma pauperis shall be submitted to the Court in the form specified in Pa. R.C.P 240.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Mediator report

When the parties reach no agreement, the mediator must prepare and file a report under Local Civil Rule 1940.6.

In those actions where the parties cannot reach any agreement, the Child Custody Mediator shall prepare and file a report pursuant to LOCAL CIVIL RULE 1940.6.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Mediator report

The no-resolution report must be in writing and provide no further explanation unless the parties agree to more disclosure and the mediator finds it beneficial.

If no resolution is reached during mediation, the Child Custody Mediator shall, within ten (10) days, report this in writing to the Court, without further explanation, unless the parties agree to additional disclosure and the Child Custody Mediator finds that additional disclosure will be beneficial.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Electronically filed document

An attorney-filed electronic document must include the filer’s typed name, address, and telephone number, and attorneys must also include their Pennsylvania bar number.

Each document E-Filed by an attorney shall also include the typed name, address, and telephone number of the attorney or unrepresented party filing such document. Attorneys shall include their Pennsylvania bar number.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Pre trial memorandum

When a timely and lawful jury-trial demand has been made, the parties must file a pre-trial memorandum as prescribed by the court.

Where a timely and lawful demand for a jury trial has been made, the District Court Administrator shall list the case for a pre-trial conference and require the parties to file a pre-trial memorandum as prescribed by the court.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Bond with individual surety

A bond offered with an individual surety must be accompanied by an affidavit stating the value of the secured property and describing any liens on it.

(b) When a bond with individual surety is offered for approval, the bond shall not be approved unless it be accompanied by an affidavit which shows (1) the value of the property given as security and (2) a description of any liens upon it.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Electronically filed document

Each electronically filed document is deemed signed by the authorizing attorney or represented party and must bear that person's facsimile or typographical signature.

Each electronically filed document shall be deemed to have been signed by the attorney or party represented by an attorney � •. I authorizing such filing and shall bear a facsimile or typographical signature of such person, e.g. "Isl Adam Attorney."

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

A motion must contain counsel's certification that concurrence was sought and either given or denied, except that concurrence need not be sought from a pro se litigant.

A motion must be written, and shall contain a certification by counsel for the movant that he or she has sought concurrence in the motion from each party, and that it has either been given or denied. No concurrence need be sought from a pro se litigant.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Electronically filed declaration or affidavit

An electronically filed declaration or affidavit is deemed signed by its declarant or affiant if an attorney or unrepresented party authorized the filing.

Each electronically filed declaration and affidavit shall be deemed to have been signed by the declarant or affiant if an attorney or party not represented by an attorney has authorized such filing.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Police criminal complaint

Police criminal complaints charging the listed offenses require approval by an attorney for the Commonwealth before filing to be accepted by a judicial officer.

The Susquehanna County District Attorney having filed the required certification pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 101A, criminal complaints by police officers charging violations of Crimes Code Section 2501, Criminal Homicide; Section 2502, Murder; Section 2505, Causing or Aiding Suicide; Section 2710, Ethnic Intimidation; Section 2901, Kidnapping; Section 3201, et seq., Abortion Act; or Section 5701, et seq., Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Act, shall not be accepted by any judicial officer unless the complaints have the approval of an attorney for the Commonwealth prior to filing.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Bar admission petition

An applicant’s bar-admission petition must be presented by a member of the Court’s Bar and show the applicant’s Pennsylvania bar admission, good moral character, and Susquehanna County residence or office.

(b) Admission to the Bar of this Court shall be by petition of the applicant, presented by a member of this Bar, which petition shall show that the applicant (1) has been admitted to the Bar of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and (2) is a person of good moral character; and (3) is a resident of Susquehanna County or has an office in Susquehanna County.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Electronically filed legal paper

Electronic filing certifies that the original hard copy was properly signed and, when applicable, verified, and that the filing carries the certification described in Pa.R.C.P. 1023.1(c), subject to the stated sanction.

The electronic filing of a legal paper constitutes a certification by the filing party that the original hard copy was properly signed and, where applicable, verified; and a certification as provided by the signature to a legal paper under Pa.R.C.P. 1023.1(c), the violation of which shall be subject to the sanction provided in Pa.R.C.P. 1023.1(d).

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Electronically filed document

The title of each electronically filed document must identify the document, filing party, party against whom relief is sought if applicable, and nature of the relief.

The title of each electronically filed document shall include: •/ a) Descriptive title of the Document; b) Party or parties filing the document; c) Party or parties against whom relief, if any, is sought; and d) Nature of the relief sought (e.g. Defendant ABC Corporation's Motion for Summary Judgement Against Plaintiff Jones).

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Praecipe

A case subject to arbitration must be listed by a praecipe of either counsel, or by an agreement or reference filed with the Prothonotary.

Cases subject to arbitration under Susquehanna County Local Rule 1301 shall be listed therefore on a praecipe of either counsel or by agreement or reference filed with the Prothonotary.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Motion concerning payment of mediation fee

If either party is indigent, that party must move for the other party to pay the full mediation fee, and the Court will determine who pays.

Further, if either party is indigent, he or she shall motion that the other party pay the full mediation fee and the Court will direct what party shall make payment.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Search warrant application

After the District Attorney files the required certification, a search warrant application must have prior approval from an attorney for the Commonwealth to be accepted for filing.

The Susquehanna County District Attorney having filed the required certification pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 2002A, search warrant applications shall not be accepted by any judicial officer unless the application has the approval of an attorney for the Commonwealth prior to filing.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Notice to defend

The notice to defend must name the Susquehanna County Prothonotary or designee as the source of information about available legal help.

The Prothonotary of Susquehanna County, or his designee, is the person to be named in the notice to defend from whom information as to the availability of legal help can be obtained.

CRITICALCriminal cases

Applies to

Attorney filing

An attorney filing in a case for the first time must include their current official address, telephone number, and Pennsylvania attorney identification number.

(c) Any filing by an attorney, not heretofore of record in the case, shall contain his or her current official address, telephone number and Pennsylvania attorney identification number.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

Must include

proposed order

Every motion must include a form order that would grant the relief sought if entered.

Every motion shall be accompanied by a form order which, if entered by the court, would grant the relief sought in the motion

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Written notice

A party wishing to submit preliminary objections on briefs without attending argument must notify the court and all other parties in writing before the argument date.

If a party wishes to submit the matter on brief only without attending oral argument, prior to the date of the oral argument, the party shall inform the court and all other parties, in writing, of the party's intention to submit on brief only.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Petition for bond review

A petition seeking review of a bond or its surety must specifically state the objection.

(d) In all cases the form of the bond and the surety thereon shall be subject to review by the Court upon the filing of a petition stating specifically the objection thereto together with notice to the adverse party or his attorney.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Final order

After transmitting a Memorandum of Understanding for a complete or partial resolution, the mediator may be required to submit a Final Order to the Court.

Thereafter, pursuant to LOCAL RULE 1940.5(h), the Child Custody Mediator may be required to submit a Final Order to the Court.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Request to attend mediation

Parties ineligible for court-ordered mediation because of domestic violence may request in writing the Court’s permission to attend mediation.

Parties ineligible for court ordered mediation, because of domestic violence, may request in writing that they be permitted, by the Court, to attend mediation.

WARNINGCivil cases

Applies to

Additional financial or property documents

The master may direct parties to file additional financial or property documents the master considers necessary to decide the matter.

The master shall be empowered to direct the filing of such additional documents relating to financial or property matters as the master may deem necessary for his or her determination of the matter.

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Motion

A moving party may include a supporting brief it deems appropriate and necessary with its motion.

Every motion shall be accompanied by a form order which, if entered by the court, would grant the relief sought in the motion, and any supporting brief that the moving party deems appropriate and necessary.

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Request to be relieved as hearing officer

Resident county bar members serving as support hearing officers may request in writing to the District Court Administrator to be relieved of that responsibility.

The resident members of the Bar of Susquehanna County actively engaged in the practice of law in the county shall be hearing officers in support unless, upon written request to the District Court Administrator, they ask to be relieved of this responsibility.

INFOCivil cases

Applies to

Mediator report

With the parties' consent, the mediator may include a concise summary, specified background and dispute information, and any recommendations in the report.

With the consent of the parties, the Child Custody Mediator may state in the report a concise summary of the mediation, including the background of the action, the allegations of the parties concerning the areas of dispute, and the recommendations, if any, of the Child Custody Mediator concerning disposition.